The golden escalator bears Aphrodite, Ms. Pear, and Dolly upward. Their joined hands remain raised before the watching citizens as four summoned witnesses approach between the columns: Rosa with brass calipers and cords, Prince with a polished lyre, Barry White carrying a broad ceremonial drum, and Yen Saiatomae with a wax tablet.
Rosa Lewis
A bond chosen freely can be measured, recorded, and made durable. I will witness its shape and its limits.
Prince
Then let the proclamation have a rhythm worthy of the heart. No vow should vanish beneath a crowd’s applause.
Barry White
Love is strongest when it speaks plainly, and when the people gathered here understand what they are hearing.
Yen Saiatomae
As civic witness, I ask that adoption be named as a chosen bond, with its promises and boundaries spoken aloud.
Prince strikes a soft opening chord while Barry answers with a low, resonant beat. Rosa steadies her tools, and Yen lifts her tablet. The escalator slows, awaiting the terms.
The Citizens
Speak the terms! Let every witness hear what this adoption promises, and what it does not demand!
Ms. Pear’s grip remains careful around Dolly’s hand. Dolly looks from their joined fingers to Aphrodite, while the instruments hold one expectant note beneath the temple’s bright columns.
“I tell the crowd that " Adoption does not work in tales of the tavern. Further more, it does not work on characters the players have already recruited. Explicit character must be listed in another character's book to be adopted and recruited by other players."”
SUCCESS (Great Oratory, rolled +0)
Aphrodite
Citizens, adoption does not belong in tales of the tavern, nor does it apply to characters players have already recruited. An explicit character must be listed in another character’s book before others may adopt and recruit them.
Her declaration cuts through Prince’s chord and Barry White’s drumbeat. Rosa lowers her calipers, Yen pauses over the wax, and Ms. Pear’s careful grip tightens around Dolly’s hand.
Yen Saiatomae
Then I shall record the distinction exactly: this public friendship may be witnessed, but adoption and recruitment require the stated book entry.
The Citizens
The rule is clear, but why was the earlier proclamation allowed to sound like adoption?
A murmur travels up the golden steps. The citizens accept the rule, yet their doubt turns toward Aphrodite’s authority, while Ms. Pear and Dolly remain joined before every witness.
Ms. Pear
Whatever the word, goddess, I will honor the friendship Dolly and I freely chose. I ask only that the record leave no false promise between us.
Yen presses the ruling into wax. The achievement stands publicly, but the crowd now expects Aphrodite to clarify the ceremony’s earlier language, a debt of trust created by her correction.
✓ Quest Accepted
Clarify the ceremony’s earlier language before the witnesses
“I will ask Yen to amend the wax record with that clarification.”
SUCCESS (Good Politics, rolled +3)
“I will state that this is friendship, not adoption or recruitment.”
SUCCESS (Great Oratory, rolled +1)
Aphrodite
This is friendship, freely chosen and publicly witnessed. It is not adoption, and it is not recruitment.
The words settle over the golden steps with unmistakable force. Prince lets the final chord fade, Barry stills his drum, and Yen inscribes the distinction without hesitation.
Yen Saiatomae
Recorded plainly: friendship, freely chosen, with no adoption or recruitment implied.
Ms. Pear
Then that is the bond I accept, goddess. Dolly is my friend, and I will honor the limits you have named.
Ms. Pear raises their joined hands. Dolly’s reserved smile brightens, while Rosa marks the clasp with a measured line and the citizens answer with a steadier, approving murmur.
Dolly
Friendship. Yes. I choose that, and I am glad the record says exactly what we mean.
The Citizens
Friendship, witnessed and bounded! Let the temple remember the truth of it!
Quest Complete
Clarify the ceremony’s earlier language before the witnesses